Transporting device



-F. WITTE.

TRANSPORTING DEVICE- APPLICATION FILED AUG-I3, 1919.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

2 shins-SHEET l.

F. WITTE. TRANSPORTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG- l3| 1919.

1 {109,806, Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- sign-Emmi as" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rnrrz wI'r'rE; OF BRUNSWICK, orninvuuw'.

TRANSPOBTING DEVICE.

Application filed August 13', 1919. Serial No. 317;!342' TooZZ whom itmay concern Be it known that I, FRITZ lVi'r'rn,,residing at Brunswick,Germany, 5 Cyriaksrin-g, have invented certainnew and usefulImprovements in a Transporting Device, (for which I have filed anapplication in. Germany, Aug. l, 1918,) of which'the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to transporting devices and more especiallyto-overheadtrans porters of the twin rope type,'where one truck passeson-topof the other when they meet on the open' track, the buckets beingsuspended from the trucks at different dis tances from the longitudinalaxis of the track so that they too will travel past each other when theone truck is overriding the other.

As is wellknown', aerial railways or ropeways of this system require twokinds of trucks of different construction, one for each direction, andthe trucks of the one kind will of necessityaccumulate at the headstation until the line has been cleared in order to avoid collisions. I

In the transporting device according' to the present invention trucks ofeasily. vari able breadth are employed and it is therefore possible tochange the breadth of the truck, after it has traveled overthe track inone or the other direction, so thatafter being loaded or discharged itmay be dispatched anew without any delay. In this manner the trucks areenabled to pass one on top of the other at a turn-out.

In the drawings affixed to this specification and forming part thereofthe preferred form of a transporter according to the present inventionis illustrated, Fig. 1 being a cross-section of the line with two trucksmeeting at a turn-out, and Fig. 1 modification. Fig. 2 is aside-elevation of two trucks, one overridingthe other one. Fig. 3 is anelevation and Fig. 4 is a plan of a loading-station, while Figs. 5 and6, respectively, are similar views of a discharging station.

1 or 1 is the carrying rail or rope (Figs. 1 and l and 2 are thestandards supporting it, the rope or rail serving for taking up thewhole traffic in both directions. The trucks consist of a curved frame 3and two pairs of wheels 4 and 5, ramp rails 6 and 7 being linked to theends of each frame 3 by aid of pins 8 and 9. In their unfolded statetheranip railsbear on the carrying rope or rail 3, being supportedthereon by rollers 10, 11. 12 1s a cross beam fixed to the truck frame-3and carrying two crabs 13, buckets 14- being suspended from these crabsb means of chainsor cables, three (15, 16, 17) for each bucket. Thismode of suspension acts to prevent the cross-beam from assuming anoblique position in case that the two bucketssuspended from a truckareloaded unevenly; Whenever cross-beam 12 shows the tendency of leaningover to the side of the heavier weighted bucket, say to the right. thesuspension cable 15 nearest to the car rying rail takes up the greaterpart of the load. In consequence, now, of the shorter arm of lever it isacting upon, as compared with the suspensions 16 and 17, it will preventthe beam from leaning over, the more so as atthe same time thesuspension cable 15' on the left hand side will now carry the fullweight of the lighter bucket, this cable however acting upon acorrespondingly longer arm of lever.

'The cross-beams are providcd'at both ends with extensions 18 adapted tobe folded upwards as shown in Fig. 1. They might however also be foldedsideways or might be displaceable in a longitudinal direction. lVhenthey are unfolded, they may carry the crabs and in that case thebreadthof the whole truck is determined by the full length of the cross-beam 12and the extensions 18. The shifting over of the crabs to and from theextensions is effected automatically by guide rails disposed on thestations, said rails acting upon rollers 19 fixed on the crabs. In a.similar manner the folding and unfolding of the extensions is effectedby aid of guide rails acting upon rollers 20 fixed to the ends of theextensions. Cable clutches 21 are fixed to the cross beams 12 or to thecar frames.

The stations of the ropeway are preferably arranged as shown in Figs. 3to 6. Hinged switches 23, 24 acted upon by springs are provided forconnecting the track rail or rope with a loop 22. Guide rails 25 and 26disposed on the departure side of the station serve for shifting thecrabs on the crossbeams and for folding and unfolding the extensions.

The operation of an aerial ropeway of the kind described is thefollowing.

After loading the trucks are dispatched with their extensions 18 foldedand their ramp rails 6, 7 unfolded. and on reaching the dischargestation are released from the hauling cable. Before dispatching themanew after the buckets have discharged their contents, the ramp rails 6,7 are folded up by suitable -means and the trucks are then coupled withthe hauling rope; On leaving the station guide rails 26 will unfold theextensions 18, guide rails shifting the crabs 13 sideways upon .theextensions.

If the truck on its return travel meets another truck coming from theloading station, it will overri e it as shown in Figs. 1

of said beam.

2. In a transporting device in combination,

a load carrying truck, means connected with said truck for overridinganother truck, a cross-beam on said truck adapted to carry the load,nc-ans for mrying the length'o'i said beam and buckets suspended fromsaid beam, each bucket-being connected with three points of said beam.

3. In a transporting device in combina .tion, a load carrying truck,means connected with said truck for overriding another truck, across-beam onsaid truck adaptedto carry passing aside of the the loadand extensions on said crossbeam; V

4'. In a transporting device in combination, a load carrying truck,means connected with said truck for overriding another truck,

a cross-beam on said truck adapted to carry the load and foldingextensions on said crossbeam. i V

5. In a transporting device in combinabination, a load carrying truck,ramp rails hinged to said truck and means for easily varying the breadthof said truck.

6. "In a transporting device in combination, a load carrying truck,means connected with said truck for overriding another truck,

a cross-beam on said truck adapted to carry the load, extensions on saidcross-beam and crabs'displaceably disposed on said beam.

7. In atransporting device'in combination,a load carrying'tmck, meansconnected with said truck for overriding another truck, a cross-beam onsaid truck adapted to carry the load, extensions on said cross-beam,crabs displaceably disposed on said beam and buckets suspended from saidcrabs.

8. In a transporting device in combination, a load carrying truck, meansconnected with said truck for overriding another truck, acros's-beamonsaid truck adapted to carry the load, extensions onsaidcrossbeam, crabs displaceably disposed on said beam and bucketssuspended from said crabs, each bucket being connected with three pointsof a crab. j

In testimonyfwhereof I. affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.a a

' FRITZ VVITTE. V,

Witnesses I WILHELM LEHRKE, WILLI Farm.

